News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-09-29
NOT WORTH THE CANDLE.

NUl NUNIH LIE UANULE,
Shortly after the memorable three DAYS
of July, 1880, the floating population of
Paris was modestly increased by the ar
rival IN that city, from his native prov
ince, of Symphorien Baliveau. The
possessOr of this singular end mot pre-
clsely euphonious patronymic was a man
about twenty-five years old, neither
handsome nor the reversc-the sort of
type one meets every day on the boule-
ward, and never looks at twice. Such,
however, was not his own opinion; on
the contrary, he was profoundly i'm
pressed with the consciousness of his per-
sonal attractions, and resolved to profit
by them for the attainment of the great
object of his ambition-notoriety. Dur
ing the first few weeks of his so:ourn in
the French capital he pondered incessant-
y on the best means of realizing his pro-
ject, and finally made up his mind.
Il have everything in my favor he
said to himself-''good looks, money,
and determination to succeed; all |
want is a short cut to celebrity, and a
duel will give me that"
Having arrived at this conclusion, NJ
Ballveau impatiently awaited an oppor-
tunlty of testing the correctness of his
idea, which very soon came On the
following evening in bavaroise at Tor
toni's short, spare individual, dressed
according to the latest mode with a
bristling mustache and a self-satisfed
air, tOJk his seat at an adjoining table.
The provincial, after critical inspection
OF the newcomer, rose from his chair,
and, saluting him courteously, requested
that he would favor him with the adj
dress of his tailor.
The stranger glanced obliquely at his
questioner. ''Why?" he inquired.
Because | am struck with the good
taste of your dress. That green coat
with the silver buttons becomes you adj
mirably."
'eYou think so2" "Well, your wish
can be easily gratifed, for happen to
have my tailor's card in my pocket.
Here it is
Extremely obliged. May ask if you
also have the address of your bootmaker2n
Certainly" the little man replied with
great suavity, and tearing out leaf from
his memorandum book, he wrote on it
the indication required, and handed it to
Baliveau. SIS there anything more that
you might wish to know2"
''Only this. If might venture to in
--aaiFe. the name of your hattergn- -
1''e5 I95sree co say, am unable TO
give you tonight. But l have it at
home, and tomorrow morning two of
my friends will have the honor of COM
municating it to you, if you will favor
me with your address,"
with pleasure, monsieur" replied
Symphorien. Here is my card"
''And here is mine"
Nothing could be better" thought
Baliveau, as, after exchanging a polite
bow with the stranger, and paying for
his bavaroise, he strolled leisurely along
the boulevard; impossible to settle
little affair of this kind more pleasantly.
My adversary is gentleman, there is no
doubt of that. By the way, may as
well see who he isl Then, taking the
card from his pocket, and approaching
a lighted show window, he read as fol-
lows: ''Martial Rogue" "Roque?" he
exclaimed, starting back and paling
visibly-''the notorious duelist who
never misses his man, but either spits
him with thrust impossible to parry, or
brings him down with bullet neatly
placed between the eyes! Mercy on me,
what a mistake have made, and all for
the sake of celebrity! | shall be cele-
brated enough tomorrow, l dare say :;
but what good will it do me if am not
there to see it?'
From which soliloquy it may be in
ferred that NJ. Baliveau, although a hero
in spe, was by no means equally DESTROYS
of being posthumous one.
As may be imagined, he slept very
badly, and early next morning was
aroused from titful slumber by the ar
rival of his adversary's seconds, to whom
he apologized, on the plea of being a
stranger in Paris, for his inability to re-
fer them to his own temOins; promising,
however, that they should accompany
him to the appointed place of meeting.
A secluded spot in the Bots de Boulogne
in those days less frequented than it is
at present-having been agreed upon,
and O'Clock in the afternoon proposed
and accepted, NJ. Roque's emissaries an
nounced that their principal, having the
choice of weapons, had selected pistols,
and, this formality accomplished, left
SymphOrien to his meditations, which
were none of the brightest. While rue
fully cogitating to whom he could apply
in this dilemma, he mechanically drew
from his pocket the two addresses given
him by Rogue THE very men want,
he said, Frightening up, aud without
moments delay he dispatched a messen-
ger to Messrs. Staub and Sakosky, the
fashionable tailor and bootmaker of the
period, requesting their immediate at
tendance at the hotel where he was stay
ing.
On their appearance, within a few
minutes of each other, he adopted the
conciliatory plan of giving them a far
larger order than they were in the habit
of receiving, even from their most ex-
travagant customers, and when the
necessary details of measurement had
been completed, he astonished them still
more by desiring to know the amount of
his debt, as he wished to settle it before
hand. With one accord they protested
against the necessity of so speedy pay
ment, declaring that they had every
confidence in his solvency. and were not
in the slightest hurry.
'That may be, B." he replied; "but am.
l have a duel this afternoon with NJ.
Rogue; and although l am no novice in
such matters, and have brought down
swallow on the wing before now, atilI,
with so dangerous an adversary. one can
not be quite sure of what may happen
The two tradesmen exchanged looks of
apprehension. "'You are going to fight
duel with NJ. Roque?" gasped Staub.
If you do, you are dead man.
prophetically chimed in Sakosky.
The more reason for putting nv
affairs in order" quietly remarked Bali
veau. Here are 2, 900 francs. Ifmatters
turn out badly for me, and there is any,
thing over, you can account for it to nv
heirs
This off-hand proceeding was far from
agreeable, either TO the tailor or the
bootmaker. The idea of losing so ex-
cellent and confding customer, who
actually paid in advance before his
orders were executed, was inexpressibly
aggravating On the other hand, they
reflected on the eventuality-most un-
likely, no doubt, but still possible-o
his proving the better shot of the two.
Rogue owed them large sum of money,
and if by chance he should fall victim